Rotary switch handle



July 17, 1928. 1,677,706

A. w. CLAUDERv 11011111111 -swI'rcH HANDLE Filed NOV. l, 1924 His Attrrrey.v

Patented July 17, 1928.

UNITED DGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, AssIGNOR To GENERAL ELEC- AETHUE w. CLAUDEE, OE BEI l EPORATION OE NEW YORK.

TRIQ COMPANY, A oo TE s ROTARY SWITCH HANDLE. `v

Application led Novembervl, 1924 Serial N ,J74'7,196.y

The present invention relates to thumb pieces or handles of electric In electric switchesof the is common practice to prov to hold such cover or plate `.constructing the operating piece to bear yieldinglyagainst the outer switches. rotary type,it ide a plateor f 5 cover to enclose the active parts thereof and` in position by handle .or thumb it "r against the thumbpiece is attached to the switch shaft by screw threading it upon the outer end of the latter', and, on account of which a. child may piece or handle and. remove vthe vease with i unscrew the usual thumb the protective enclosure means of the electrically charged parts, there hasy arisen a thing .safer and better use.m f. v

The object of my inventio -demand for somelsuited to domestic n is .the provision'of an improved handle or thumb piece for rotary switches which may not be detached from a special tool or key,- posed the switch except-by the, use lof whichy shall `be comof few and sturdy parts and which may be manufacturedatlow cost.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which Fig.

1 is a vertical section Lof the handle and va fragmentary sectional representation of the switch and protective enclosure; Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the handle at line 2-2, Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a perspective representation of certain detail parts.

The outer or main of moulded insulating materi part 1 of thev handle isA al such as compound or porcelain with the exterior surface substantially cylindrical, with longitudinal flutes 2 to provide a good handhold thereon and interiorly it is provided with a cylinat the drical chamber 3 open lower end and having an axial opening 4 at the upper end with a countersunk portion 5.

. AWithin the chamber 6 of a shape and size the space therein and yond the lower surface of the handle. thimble have three spaced lo 3 is a metal thimble to substantially yfill project somewhat bethe main part of The' inner side walls of the ngitudinal ribs 7 formed by indenting the metal. The upper end wall is apertured centrally corresponding to the axial opening 4l in the main part and anchorage teats 8 are struck upwardly for engagement with corresp onding depres outer part 1 by sions in the upper end wall ofthe chamber An eyelet 9 is assembled in the end aperture vY of' the thimble 6 with its flange 10 engaging the inner surface, of the end wall thereof,

and ,upon passing the upper end throuUlr is Y provided for the in- WVithin t-he shell 6 is a nut orinternally threaded cylinder 11 adapted to be screwed upon the end of the: operating spindle or shaft 12 of an ordinary rotary switch and in its upper end is a cleftornotch 13.

A disk 14 having spring ratchet arms 15 y struck downwardlytherefrom and a central assembled on the upper end of the cylinderv 11 with aperture crossed by a barl 16v is the barr 1.6 in the clefti13y and is secured thereto by lugs 17 struck up from the outer surface. of the. cylinder. j ,y

A combined guide and stop disk 18 having acentral aperture 19l of a size to loosely receive the cylinder 11 and radial armsl 20 with notches 21 in their outer ends corresponding to the longitudinal ribs 7 of the thimble 6 is assembled upon the cylinder 11 adjacent the ratchetdisk 14 with the ratchet arms 15 adapted to engage at their free ends against the side edges of the radial arms 20. A helical spring 22 is assembled about the cylinder 11 and thrusts against the guide and stop disk 18 atits upper end and at its lower end against a guide washer 23 assembled about the lower end filling the lower end of the thimble 6 to which .it is secured by spinning over the metal thereof v and forming an external beaded collar 24 thereon adapted to engage the upper surface of the switch cover 25.

In the operation of screwing the handle upon the switch shaft in the usual righthanded direction, the nut or threaded cylinder v11vis caused to rotate with the main or reason of the engagement of the radial arms 2() of the combined guide and stop disk 18 rotatably `fixed to the latter with the free ends of the ratchet arms 15 rotatably fixed to the lformer, and as the nut is screwed home on the switch shaft, it is drawn downwardly against the tension of of the cylinder 11 and f l the switch cover 25.

In case of an attempt being made to unscrew the handle by rotation thereof in the usual left-handed direction, the main or outer part l will merely swivel on the nut `or threaded cylinder ll, since the radial arms .20 are free to pass beneath the spring ratchet arms l5. However, a proper tool or key may be entered through the eyelet 8 and into direct engagen'ient with the cleft 13 in the nut and the latter turnedV independently of the main part ot' the handle.

While I have shown and described the best embodiment ol the invention known to me, I do not desire to be restricted thereto.

What I claim as new and desire tolsecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A handle for rotary switches comprising a main part ehambered at one end, a cylindrical metal thimble secured in the chamber of said main part and provided with internal ribs or shoulders, a combined stop and guide disk freely engaging said ribs or shoulders, a switch engaging nut sembled within said thimble and axially guided therein by said guide and'` stop disk and in which it is journalled, a. ratchet secured to said nut and normally engaging said guide and' stop disk, a spring forcing said nut inwardly of said main part, and means in said thimble for retaining said spring in place.

2. A handle for rotary switches comprising a main part chambered at one end and axially apertured at the other end, a Vcylinnut, a spring normally holding saidlg-uide and stop disk in engagement with said ratchet disk and forcing said nut inwardly of said ble for retaining said spring in place.

3. A handle for rotary switches compris` ing a main part chambered at the lower end and axially apertured at the upper end, a switch engaging nut in the chamber of said main party provided with a cross slit in the upper end thereof, a ratchet disk having a central bar assembled in theslit ot a combined guide and stop disk movable longitudinally in the chamber of said main part and in which said nut is journalled, a .spring normally tending to force said disks into engagement and` said nut inwardlyl oi" said main part, and a washer secured in the outer end or said chamber and operating as a fixed guide for said nut and as a retainingv means tor said spring.

In witness whereolQI have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of October, 1924.' j

main part, and means on said thim-cy said nut,

and journalled ARTHUR w. CLAUDER". 

